Different expectations for different franchises I guess. I'd be ecstatic if I were a Knicks fan right now. The Hawks were losing Horford and they got a hometown name / former all star and DPOY to replace him instead of hitting the reset button.

Different expectations for different franchises I guess. I'd be ecstatic if I were a Knicks fan right now. The Hawks were losing Horford and they got a hometown name / former all star and DPOY to replace him instead of hitting the reset button.

I would be confused and disappointed if I were a Knicks fan. Rose, Noah, and maybe Gordon? Or (outside chance) Wade? Is PJ putting together an injury ward or a bball team?

I would be confused and disappointed if I were a Knicks fan. Rose, Noah, and maybe Gordon? Or (outside chance) Wade? Is PJ putting together an injury ward or a bball team?

Are you sure? That sounds like something a Laker fan pretending to be a Knicks fan would say Lol. You gotta take out the championship mentality all together; it's not easy. 1973 man. Yes perhaps trading Melo and rebuilding is a better option but by all indications he has no desire to leave. In that's the case you might as well make win now moves and they've done that without trading any future picks. The Knicks aren't really known for attracting free agents so if a slew of them are all suddenly interested how can you say no? Would Howard at 23 million or a 36 year old Pau have been a better option and is there any guarantee they would have signed? What SG out there is better than the options they're currently interested in (Wade, Lee, Gordon)?

Are you sure? That sounds like something a Laker fan pretending to be a Knicks fan would say Lol. You gotta take out the championship mentality all together; it's not easy. 1973 man. Yes perhaps trading Melo and rebuilding is a better option but by all indications he has no desire to leave. In that's the case you might as well make win now moves and they've done that without trading any future picks. The Knicks aren't really known for attracting free agents so if a slew of them are all suddenly interested how can you say no? Would Howard at 23 million or a 36 year old Pau have been a better option and is there any guarantee they would have signed? What SG out there is better than the options they're currently interested in (Wade, Lee, Gordon)?

I get your point. Many Knicks fans are delusional, as much as Lakers fans.

But at some point you gotta face reality. It's not even a PO roster with Melo as the star. I thought hiring PJ was an attempt to move in the right direction. They have a great young player and some decent role players. There's not a ton there, but it was headed in the right direction at least. I'd have been moving Melo for picks and young players, building around Porzingis and the role players. I would overpay for a couple healthy FAs. Rondo comes to mind. The Rose trade was dumb, signing Noah even dumber. At best they become 2nd round PO exit team, at worst they are all injured and miss the POs. High risk, high cost, low ceiling. Dumb.

I get your point. Many Knicks fans are delusional, as much as Lakers fans.

But at some point you gotta face reality. It's not even a PO roster with Melo as the star. I thought hiring PJ was an attempt to move in the right direction. They have a great young player and some decent role players. There's not a ton there, but it was headed in the right direction at least. I'd have been moving Melo for picks and young players, building around Porzingis and the role players. I would overpay for a couple healthy FAs. Rondo comes to mind. The Rose trade was dumb, signing Noah even dumber. At best they become 2nd round PO exit team, at worst they are all injured and miss the POs. High risk, high cost, low ceiling. Dumb.

Based on the options available I think they've done well. If we're talking about Melo hypothetically waiving his no trade clause and the Knicks rebuilding that's a different discussion entirely. Might as well go back and discuss if the Knicks should have re-signed him in the first place or whether they should have refused to give him the no trade clause.

Based on the options available I think they've done well. If we're talking about Melo hypothetically waiving his no trade clause and the Knicks rebuilding that's a different discussion entirely. Might as well go back and discuss if the Knicks should have re-signed him in the first place or whether they should have refused to give him the no trade clause.

Meh.

Back to the OP's point. Hawks fans are purty happy right now. Let's check in about Christmas and see how they feel.

I think all of his money is guaranteed, by the way...no options. Hilarious.

Amnestied year 3!

Praying for 1. Some Cohesion (Ill fitting parts with young bucks, new guys, and those playing for next contracts may muck things up all season) 2. Better Coaching, No More Tanking (Last season was more of the latter but not sure how much of the former we can count on. Walton with something to prove this season as much as any Laker player) 3. Rookie Watch (Hoping Lonzo outshines his daddy (ROTY??), and Kuzma finds minutes and makes a push for all rook 2nd team).

I was listening to the Dukes and Bell show on Atlanta's 92.9 Sport talk radio and they were interviewing Dwight Howard, and I heard something that I wanted to share.

I will do my best to paraphrase and quote. So its not the exact word for word transcript, but its close...and I'm not skewing the point of what came across at all.

Dukes/Bell: "This is an exciting time for Atlanta basketball to have you, in the past we haven't had the go to star, a leader, someone that could could step up and call this team their own, this time we do, this is the time for Dwight, this was the Hawks show and now its the Dwight show."

Dwight Howard: "No no, no. Its not the Dwight show its the Hawks show. I'm about team. Team and winning. Whatever it takes to get the win. I feel like over the past 2-3 seasons fans had the perception that I was a selfish player and only all about myself, I dont want people to think I'm a selfish player."

I just shook my head and giggled. Same ol' D12. Afraid to accept responsibility and be the focal point and leader of a team. And more worried about what fans think of him and if people "like him" than he is about stepping up and taking his team, his role and his play to the next level. All in efforts to avoid pressure and scrutiny. But he has no issue cashing the $23,180,275.00check that a franchise player is paid. Hawks made a big mistake. And I know its not fair to judge his outcome over a radio interview so I'm not. Im using his entire body of work. This interview is just an indication he hasn't changed.

Dwight always says the right things in preseason but we'll see if he's still stuck on being a post offense option instead of being used a roll/dive man and controlling the paint. ATL could be nasty if he just focuses there.

"Blake and Parker are good at canceling each other out till our bench point guard comes in" - Majesty aka Bird Ish (12/4/13)

Assuming DW is healthy 65+ games next year, here is how I would rank the East:

-Cavs

-Celtics

-Raptors

-Bulls

-Pacers

-Pistons

-Wiz

-Hawks

-Heat

-Bobcats

Depending on injuries and breakout years, Hawks could go anywhere up to #4 or out of the POs completely. Losing 2 borderline all stars (Horford and Teague) in one off season and replacing them with inferior players is not exactly a recipe for success. Add the loss of Carroll last year, and I think the Hawks are blowing up the roster without saying it.